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Monday, March 09, 2015

Martin County Father of Twins Charged with Butane Hash Oil Laboratory and Weapons Charges

A Martin County resident was arrested for running a butane
hash oil laboratory and weapons charges.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District
of Florida, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami
Field Office, and A.D. Wright, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Miami Field
Division, made the announcement.

Daniel Paul Vranich, 31, of Lake Park, FL, made his initial
appearance before U.S. Magistrate Frank J. Lynch Jr., in Fort Pierce, who
detained him as a risk of flight and danger to the community, pending a
detention hearing. His detention hearing is scheduled for March 13, 2015 and
arraignment on March 20, 2015.

Vranich is charged with manufacturing and possession with
intent to manufacture, distribute and dispense a controlled substance,
punishable by up to five years in prison; endangering human life while
illegally manufacturing a controlled substance, punishable by up to ten years
in prison; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime,
punishable by a consecutive five years in prison; possession of a firearm by a
convicted felon, punishable by up to ten years in prison.

On December 30th, 2014, at approximately 4:00 a.m., 911
Emergency Services received a call, regarding an explosion originating from an
apartment in Stuart, Florida. In the apartment, Stuart Police Department (SPD),
Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Martin County Fire Rescue (MCFR), Stuart
Fire Rescue (SFR) and State Fire Marshal’s Office discovered a smoldering fire
and a large industrial vacuum drying oven with a timing device. DEA and
Hazardous Material Unit (Hazmat) determined that the chemicals, equipment and
other items were consistent of a Butane Hash Oil (BHO) laboratory. A witness
identified Daniel Paul Vranich and his girlfriend, as the couple who had been
living in the apartment for the past year, with their twin baby girls. SPD
detectives found large glass cylinders containing approximately 20 pounds of marijuana,
numerous empty butane cans, air pumps/compressors, a 1.9 cubic foot vacuum
oven, wax paper with approximately 48 grams of BHO, a food saver sealing
machine, two digital scales, electric grinder, money counting machine, vacuum
chamber, and numerous containers and storage bags. SPD detectives also found a
loaded Sig Sauer .45 caliber pistol and numerous personal documents belonging
to Vranich.

According to the criminal complaint, hash oil is a highly
potent derivative of marijuana, obtained by extracting the resins containing
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active psychoactive compound, from marijuana
buds and plant matter by passing liquid butane through a glass cylinder packed
with marijuana plant matter, like those found in Vranich’s apartment. As the
butane passes through the cylinder, the crystallized resins containing THC are
dissolved in the butane. As the solvent (butane & resins) exits the
cylinder, it is caught in a glass container, like that found in Vranich’s
apartment. Because butane vapor is extremely volatile, highly flammable and
large amounts are required in the process of extracting the resin from the raw
marijuana, explosions and fires from accidents have resulted in the destruction
of property, severe injuries and even death.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the ATF,
DEA, SPD, MCSO, MCFR, SFR and State Fire Marshal’s Office. This case is being
prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.

A complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.